Concept of courage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Concept of courage - Essay Example Fear is a prerequisite for courage. Fear is the consequence of an insight of vulnerability, which is recognized by the accurate or inaccurate assessment or estimation of a threat as outweighing the individual resources. The only validated scale used to calculate courage was of late produced by Schmidt and Koselka in a cognitive therapy research. The Courage measuring Scale used in this study was constructed 7-item scale. The first three items used were to assess the broad-spectrum of courage, while the last four items assessing panic-specific courage. The scales do not illustrate the number of situational domains, and the third item on the three-item scale questions participants if they are fearless. Despite the fear being said to be a precondition for courage, it is rated to be in a positive direction as other items that result in two high scores. One indicating courage and the other indicating a general absence of fear. Many analysis and correlations were used to see the sights of the relationships among courage, toughness, and physical illness. Hardiness or toughness was not found to be a considerable analyst of physical illness for the participants’ Hardiness was found to be a weak predictor of physical illness for men. There are no other variables in this study that were found to be an important predictor of physical illness, and the variations of the courage scores did not enhance the relationship between hardiness and physical illness when variance accounted for by gender was controlled.

Evolution of Human Sexuality Essay Example for Free

Evolution of Human Sexuality Essay What is the difference between sex and sexuality? Over the years human sexuality has been a debate that has never been won. Each and every day there are person who expresses their sexuality differently and others considered them to be taboo. Perfect by nature that’s what we ought to be but because of self indulgence with choice we have developed sexuality. According to Gainor sex is refer to as the person’s biological status and it is typically categorized as male, female or intersex. Then what is sexuality? Has sexuality given us our gender identity and sexual orientation? Thus I will expound on the history of sexuality and how it has evolved. As early as the populations of the Hebrews sex was vital to their lively hood. The Hebrews considered the act of sex the bond to a monogamy relationship; one man, one wife according to Rabbi Tulushkin; but if a woman was childless or developed an abnormality such as a boil would lead to the grounds of divorce which rarely happened. They also thought that sex was the ‘divine injunction’ of procreation thus homosexuality was strongly disapproved of. They believed that marital bonds would be strengthened the heterosexual relationships and create a strong bond for the family. Although they had clear preference for monogamy relationship, polygamy was permissible. On the other hand many cultures such as the ancient Greeks normalized or promoted homosexuality among the adult males who were soldiers and older males with male youths; usually teenagers, entering into pedagogic friendships or love affairs that also had an erotic dimension. If sexual, the relationship lasted until the youth was ready for adulthood and marriage therefore, it was not suppose to threaten the institution of the family. Women had no status or rights than slaves in their society only giving them a job as concubines or house wives; they were treated like chattels. Beastality and Sadism were practiced of the world of ancient Rome. These sexual acts were only found among men of hierarchy. Although bestiality and sadism were accepted in their era, homosexuality was considered to be a threat to the family. After the crucifixion of Christ, Christians thought that masturbation and prostitution were sinful. Sexual pleasure even within the marriage was considered to be a sinful act from the days of Eve and Adam. According to Saint Augustine sexual lust ,shame and sexual intercourse during marriage were passed down from Adam and Eve were considered to be inherently evil therefore the only way they could have salvation was through celibacy. Hence, Christians recognize sex for procreation and not for self satisfaction. The Bible is considered to be the oldest book made by man and inspired by god but within the Indian culture the Kama Sutra was held has the bible of sexual pleasure. It gave a descriptions of ways in which a man or a female can seduced their partner and get them sexually aroused. They considered sex a spiritual gift that god gave them to expressed themselves. The Chinese also saw the act to be spiritual and was anything but sinful. The man is suppose to absorb more of his wife natural essence ‘yin’ and to bring his wife to orgasm which is used as a channel for the flow of energy and enhance his own masculine essence ‘yang’. As the world got revolutionized the conception of sex and sexuality changed drastically. During this time women got the opportunity to be liberated to vote and attend academic studies. Most religious practices became oblivious. Many Christians have adopted the view that there is no sin whatsoever in the uninhibited enjoyment of marital relationships One factor in the change of values pertaining to sexual activities was the improvement of the technologies. Technology became the mastermind of our social and emotional behaviors in our everyday life . Instances, masturbation has been seen as the norm in our society especially with pornography being so rampant. This affects the enjoyment of sex as the actual act being replaced by virtual reality. In most developing countries, fear of epidemic has drastically changed many aspects of twentieth century human sexuality. Fear of contracting AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases has driven a revolution in educating person about sex which now centers far more the use of protection and abstinence. Bestiality remains illegal in most countries and condoned in none. Thus anyone carrying out this kind of practice will be subjected to punishment. This good gift of sex has been perverted and corrupted in our secular world, which is why it is such a struggle for most persons. The idea of including the perfection of one’s self in the realm of moral behavior is appealing. Indeed, I believe this to be the core purpose of human existence. Although, there are medieval practices still been carried out today most customs that were seen then are considered to be taboo and non-religious. Human behavior has changed in many ways than one but the understanding of human identity is still being questioned.

Public Schools: We Have the Right to Pray Essay -- Religion in Public

Public Schools: We Have the Right to Pray Prayer in public schools has been a controversial issue in our country for a very long time.   According to the First Amendment, the government shall not establish any official religion. Therefore, as long as the government doesn't make it mandatory for the students to pray, they should be allowed to at least have that choice. One minute set aside for a student to either have a moment of silence or to have their own prayer isn't hurting anyone, as long as students are not forced to pray. By taking away that right, it is violating their rights as American citizens and their right to have freedom of religion. In 1962, The Supreme Court ruled that school prayer violates the constitution. Many believe a new amendment needs to allow voluntary school prayer. For example, the Christian Coalition was sponsoring a bill called The House Joint Resolution 78 or The Religious Freedom Amendment. This bill will not allow the government to establish a religion, but it does give people the right to pray and recognize their own religious beliefs and traditions on public property, which does include schools. William J. Murry, the head of the Religious Freedom Coalition, held a family rally for those in favor of this bill. A petition was signed of almost one million signatures on it. The bill ended up making it to the House of Representatives. While it gained the majority of the votes, it failed to gain the 2/3 vote to amend the Constitution. They are still working on "restoring voluntary school prayer and having a safeguard for religious freedoms." Colby May, the director of government affairs for the American Center for Law and Justice, says that a change needs to be made. Those who oppose him arg... ...rayer need to be reintroduced   in the school system. Perhaps this is a way to get kids back on track since the current downfall of good behavior in schools. Our country believes in the "freedom of religion" but by taking away the right to pray, it takes away from that "freedom" many so desperately need. Works Cited "House Panel Approves Constitutional Amendment Allowing School Prayer." Your School and the Law 14 Nov. 1997. "School Prayer Bill Attracts Support." Your School and the Law 11 April. 2007. "School Prayer After Santa Fe?; Public Schools Caught Between Students, Parents and Court." Texas Lawyer 7 Aug. 2004:   Pg 25. "Key Cases on School Prayer" Managing School Business 23 April 2006. Office of Congressman Istook, U.S. House of Representatives. "The Religious Freedom Amendment." 10 Nov. 2001.   Ã‚  

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Eight

And so he kissed her. He couldn't help it. No, he couldn't stop it. His hand was on her arm, and he could feel her skin, feel the soft warmth of it, and then when he looked down, her face was tilted toward his, and her eyes, deep and blue but so completely unmysterious, were gazing up at him, and in truth there was no way – simply no way – he could do anything in that moment but kiss her. Anything else would have been a tragedy. There was an art to kissing – he'd long known that, and he'd been told he was an expert. But this kiss, with this woman – the one time it should have been art, it was all breathless nerves, because never in his life had he wanted someone in quite the manner he wanted Miss Grace Eversleigh. And never had he wanted quite so much to get it all right. He couldn't scare her. He had to please her. He wanted her to want him, and he wanted her to want to know him. He wanted her to cling to him, to need him, to whisper in his ear that he was her hero and she'd never want to so much as breathe the air near another man. He wanted to taste her. He wanted to devour her. He wanted to drink in whatever it was that made her her, and see if it would transform him into the man he sometimes thought he ought to be. In that moment she was his salvation. And his temptation. And everything in between. â€Å"Grace,† he whispered, his voice brushing across her lips. â€Å"Grace,† he said again, because he loved saying it. She moaned in response, a soft whimpering sound that told him everything he wanted to know. He kissed her softly. Thoroughly. His lips and tongue found every corner of her soul, and then he wanted more. â€Å"Grace,† he said again, his voice hoarser now. His hands slid around to her back, pressing her against him so he could feel her body as a part of the kiss. She was not corseted under her gown, and every lush curve became known to him, every warm contour. He wanted more than the shape of her, though. He wanted the taste, the smell, the touch. The kiss was seduction. And he was the one being seduced. â€Å"Grace,† he said again, and this time she whispered – â€Å"Jack.† It was his undoing. The sound of his name on her lips, the single, soft syllable – it shot through him like no Mr. Audley ever could. His mouth grew urgent and he pressed her more tightly to his body, too far gone to care that he'd gone hard against her. He kissed her cheek, her ear, her neck, moving down to the hollow of her collarbone. One of his hands moved along the side of her rib cage, the pressure plumping her breast up until the upper curve was so close to his lips, so tantalizingly – â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was more of a whisper than anything else, but still, she pushed him away. He stared at her, his breath rushed and heavy. Her eyes were dazed, and her lips looked wet and well-kissed. His body was thrumming with need, and his eyes slid down to her belly, as if he could somehow see through the folds of her dress, down, down to the V where her legs met. Whatever he'd been feeling just then – it tripled. Dear God, he hurt with it. With a shuddering groan, he tore his gaze back up to her face. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh,† he said, since the moment called for some thing, and there was no way he was going to apologize. Not for something that good. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† she replied, touching her lips. And he realized, in a single blinding moment of pure terror, that everything he saw on her face, every stunned blink of her eyes – he felt it, too. But no, that was impossible. He'd just met her, and beyond that, he did not do love. Amendment: he did not do the heart-pounding, mind-fogging, overabundance of lust that was so often confused with love. He loved women, of course. He liked them, too, which he was aware made him rather unique among men. He loved the way they moved, and he loved the sounds they made, whether they were melting in his arms or clucking their disapproval. He loved how each one smelled different, and how each moved differently, and how even so, there was something about them all as a group that seemed to brand them together. I am woman, the air around them seemed to say. I am most definitely not you. And thank heavens for that. But he had never loved a woman. And he did not have any inclination to do so. Attachments were messy things, given to all sorts of unpleasantries. He preferred to move from affaire to affaire. It fit his life – and his soul – much better. He smiled. Just a little one. Exactly the sort one would expect from a man like him at a time like this. Perhaps with a little extra tilt in one corner. Just enough to lend some wry wit to his tone when he said, â€Å"You stepped into my room.† She nodded, but the motion was so slow he couldn't be sure she even realized she was doing it. When she spoke, there was a certain dazedness to it, as if perhaps she was talking to herself. â€Å"I won't do it again.† Now, that would be a tragedy. â€Å"I wish you would,† he said, offering her his most disarming smile. He reached out, and before she could guess his intentions, took her hand and raised it to his lips. â€Å"It was certainly,† he murmured, â€Å"the most pleasant welcome of my day here at Belgrave.† He did not let go of her fingers as he added, â€Å"I very much enjoyed discussing that painting with you.† It was true. He had always liked the smart women best. â€Å"As did I,† she answered, and then she gave her hand a gentle tug, forcing him to relinquish his hold. She took a few steps toward the door, then paused, turning partway around as she said, â€Å"The collection here rivals any of the great museums.† â€Å"I look forward to viewing it with you.† â€Å"We shall begin in the gallery.† He smiled. She was clever. But just before she reached the door, he called out, â€Å"Are there nudes?† She froze. â€Å"I was wondering,† he said innocently. â€Å"There are,† she replied, but she did not turn around. He longed to see the color of her cheeks. Vermillion, or merely pink? â€Å"In the gallery?† he asked, because surely it would be impolite to ignore his query. He wanted to see her face. One last time. â€Å"Not in the gallery, no,† she said, and she did turn then. Just enough so he could see the sparkle in her eyes. â€Å"It is a portrait gallery.† â€Å"I see.† He made his expression appropriately grave. â€Å"No nudes, then, please. I confess to a lack of desire to see Great-Grandfather Cavendish au naturel.† Her lips pressed together, and he knew it was with humor, not disapproval. He wondered just what it would take to nudge her further, to dislodge the laughter that was surely bubbling at the base of her throat. â€Å"Or, good heavens,† he murmured, â€Å"the dowager.† She sputtered at that. He brought a hand to his forehead. â€Å"My eyes,† he moaned. â€Å"My eyes.† And then, bloody hell, he missed it. She laughed. He was sure that she did, even though it was more of a choking sound than anything else. But he had his hand over his eyes. â€Å"Good night, Mr. Audley.† He returned his hand to its proper place at his side. â€Å"Good night, Miss Eversleigh.† And then – and he would have sworn he'd been prepared to allow her to depart – he heard himself call out, â€Å"Will I see you at breakfast?† She paused, her hand on the outer doorknob. â€Å"I expect so, if you are an early riser.† He absolutely was not. â€Å"Absolutely I am.† â€Å"It is the dowager's favorite meal,† she explained. â€Å"Not the chocolate and the newspaper?† He wondered if he remembered everything she'd said that day. Quite possibly. She shook her head. â€Å"That is at six. Breakfast is laid at seven.† â€Å"In the breakfast room?† â€Å"You know where it is, then?† â€Å"Haven't a clue,† he admitted. â€Å"But it seemed a likely choice. Will you meet me here, to escort me down?† â€Å"No,† she said, her voice dipping slightly with amusement (Or exasperation? He couldn't be sure), â€Å"but I will arrange to have someone else lead you there.† â€Å"Pity.† He sighed. â€Å"It won't be the same.† â€Å"I should hope not,† she said, slowly shutting the door between them. And then, through the wood, he heard, â€Å"I plan to send a footman.† He laughed at that. He loved a woman with a sense of humor. At precisely six the following morning, Grace entered the dowager's bedroom, holding the heavy door open for the maid who had followed her with the tray from the kitchen. The dowager was awake, which was no great surprise. She always woke early, whether the summer sun was slipping in around the curtain edges, or the winter gloom hung heavy on the morning. Grace, on the other hand, would have gladly slept until noon if permitted. She'd taken to sleeping with her drapes open since her arrival at Belgrave – the better to let the sunlight batter her eyelids open every morning. It didn't work very well, nor did the chiming clock she'd installed upon her bedside table years earlier. She thought she would have adapted to the dowager's schedule by this point, but apparently her inner timepiece was her one rebellion – the last little bit of her that refused to believe that she was, and forever would be, companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. All in all, it was a good thing she'd befriended the housemaids. The dowager might have Grace to start her day, but Grace had the maids, who took turns each morning, slipping into her room and shaking her shoulder until she moaned, â€Å"Enough†¦Ã¢â‚¬  How strange about Mr. Audley. She would never have pegged him for a morning person. â€Å"Good morning, your grace,† Grace said, moving to the windows. She pulled open the heavy velvet curtains. It was overcast, with a light mist, but the sun seemed to be making a good effort. Perhaps the clouds would burn off by afternoon. The dowager sat up straight against her pillows, queenly in her elaborately styled, domed canopy bed. She was nearly done with her series of morning exercises, which consisted of a flexing of the fingers, followed by a pointing of the toes, finishing with a twisting of her neck to the left and right. She never stretched it side to side, Grace had noticed. â€Å"My chocolate,† she said tersely. â€Å"Right here, ma'am.† Grace moved to the desk, where the maid had left the tray before hurrying off. â€Å"Be careful, ma'am. It's hot.† The dowager waited while Grace arranged the tray on her lap, then smoothed out the newspaper. It was only two days old (three was standard in this region) and had been neatly ironed by the butler. â€Å"My reading glasses.† They were already in Grace's hand. The dowager perched them on the tip of her nose, taking a gingerly sip of her chocolate as she perused the paper. Grace sat in the straight-back chair by the desk. It was not the most convenient location – the dowager was as demanding in the morning as she was the rest of the day, and would surely have her hopping up and down and across the room to her bed. But Grace was not permitted to actually sit next to the bed. The dowager complained that it felt as if Grace were trying to read over her shoulder. Which was true, of course. Grace now had the newspaper transferred to her room once the dowager was through with it. It was still only two and a half days old when she read it, which was twelve hours better than anyone else in the district. It was strange, really, the things that made one feel superior. â€Å"Hmmm.† Grace tilted her head but did not inquire. If she inquired, the dowager would never tell. â€Å"There was a fire at Howath Hall,† the dowager said. Grace was not certain where that was. â€Å"I do hope no one was injured.† The dowager read a few more lines, then answered, â€Å"Just a footman. And two maids.† And then a moment later: â€Å"The dog perished. Oh my, that is a shame.† Grace did not comment. She did not trust herself to engage in early morning conversations until she'd had her own cup of chocolate, which she was generally not able to do until breakfast at seven. Her stomach rumbled at the thought. For someone who detested mornings as she did, she'd come to adore breakfast fare. If they could only serve kippers and eggs for supper each evening, she'd have been in heaven. She glanced at the clock. Only fifty-five more minutes. She wondered if Mr. Audley was awake. Probably. Morning people never awoke with only ten minutes to spare before breakfast. She wondered what he looked like, all sleepy and rumpled. â€Å"Is something wrong, Miss Eversleigh?† the dowager sharply inquired. Grace blinked. â€Å"Wrong, ma'am?† â€Å"You†¦ chirped.† She said this with considerable distaste, as if handling something with a particularly foul smell. â€Å"I'm so sorry, ma'am,† Grace said quickly, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. She could feel her cheeks growing warm, and she had a feeling that even in the morning light and with the dowager's diminished vision, her blush would be clearly visible. Really, she should not be imagining Mr. Audley, and especially not in any state of dishabille. Heaven only knew what sorts of inappropriate sounds she would make the next time. But he was handsome. Even when all she'd seen of him was the lower half of his face and his mask, that much had been clear. His lips were the sort that always held a touch of humor. She wondered if he even knew how to frown. And his eyes†¦Well, she hadn't been able to see those that first night, and that was almost certainly a good thing. She'd never seen anything quite so emerald. They far outshone the dowager's emeralds, which, Grace was still chagrined to remember, she'd risked her life (in theory, at least) to keep safe. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh!† Grace jerked upright. â€Å"Ma'am?† The dowager pierced with a stare. â€Å"You snorted.† â€Å"I did?† â€Å"Are you questioning my hearing?† â€Å"Of course not, ma'am.† The dowager abhorred the notion that any part of her might be susceptible to the usual impairments of age. Grace cleared her throat. â€Å"I apologize, ma'am. I was not aware. I must have, ehrm, breathed heavily.† â€Å"Breathed heavily.† The dowager appeared to find that as appealing as she had Grace's earlier chirp. Grace touched a hand lightly to her chest. â€Å"A bit of congestion, I'm afraid.† The dowager's nostrils flared as she peered down at the cup in her hands. â€Å"I do hope you did not breathe on my chocolate.† â€Å"Of course not, ma'am. The kitchen maids always carry the tray up.† The dowager evidently did not find any reason to ponder that further, and she turned back to her newspaper, leaving Grace alone once more with her thoughts of Mr. Audley. Mr. Audley. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh!† At that Grace stood. This was getting ridiculous. â€Å"Yes, ma'am?† â€Å"You sighed.† â€Å"I sighed?† â€Å"Do you deny it?† â€Å"No,† Grace replied. â€Å"That is to say, I did not notice that I sighed, but I certainly allow that I could have done so.† The dowager waved an irritated hand in her direction. â€Å"You are most distracting this morning.† Grace felt her eyes light up. Did this mean she'd escape early? â€Å"Sit down, Miss Eversleigh.† She sat. Apparently not. The dowager set down her newspaper and pressed her lips together. â€Å"Tell me about my grandson.† And the blush returned. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† The dowager's right eyebrow did a rather good imitation of a parasol top. â€Å"You did show him to his room last night, didn't you?† â€Å"Of course, ma'am. At your directive.† â€Å"Well? What did he say? I am eager to learn what sort of man he is. The future of the family may very well rest in his hands.† Grace thought guiltily of Thomas, whom she'd somehow forgotten in the past twelve hours. He was everything a duke ought to be, and no one knew the castle as he did. Not even the dowager. â€Å"Er, don't you think that might be a bit premature, your grace?† â€Å"Defending my other grandson, are we?† Grace's eyes widened. Something about the dowager's tone sounded positively malevolent. â€Å"I consider his grace a friend,† she said carefully. â€Å"I would never wish him ill.† â€Å"Pfft. If Mr. Cavendish – and don't you dare call him Mr. Audley – really is the legitimate issue of my John, then you are hardly wishing Wyndham ill. The man ought to be grateful.† â€Å"For having his title pulled from beneath his feet?† â€Å"For having had the good fortune to have had it for as long as he did,† the dowager retorted. â€Å"If Mr. – oh, bloody hell, I'm going to call him John – â€Å" Jack, Grace thought. â€Å"If John really is my John's legitimate son, then Wyndham never really had the title to begin with. So one could hardly call it stripping.† â€Å"Except that he has been told since birth that it is his.† â€Å"That's not my fault, is it?† scoffed the dowager. â€Å"And it has hardly been since birth.† â€Å"No,† Grace allowed. Thomas had ascended to the title at the age of twenty, when his father perished of a lung ailment. â€Å"But he has known since birth that it would one day be his, which is much the same thing.† The dowager grumbled a bit about that, using the same peevish undertone she always used when presented with an argument to which she had no ready contradiction. She gave Grace one final glare and then picked up her newspaper again, snapping it upright in front of her face. Grace took advantage of the moment to let her posture slip. She did not dare close her eyes. And sure enough, only ten seconds passed before the dowager brought the paper back down and asked sharply, â€Å"Do you think he will make a good duke?† â€Å"Mr. Au – † Grace caught herself just in time. â€Å"Er, our new guest?† The dowager rolled her eyes at her verbal acrobatics. â€Å"Call him Mr. Cavendish. It is his name.† â€Å"But it is not what he wishes to be called.† â€Å"I don't give a damn what he wishes to be called. He is who he is.† The dowager took a long gulp of her chocolate. â€Å"We all are. And it's a good thing, too.† Grace said nothing. She'd been forced to endure the dowager's lectures on the natural order of man far too many times to risk provoking a repeat performance. â€Å"You did not answer my question, Miss Eversleigh.† Grace took a moment to decide upon her reply. â€Å"I really could not say, ma'am. Not on such a short acquaintance.† It was mostly true. It was difficult to think of anyone besides Thomas holding the title, but Mr. Audley – for all his lovely friendliness and humor – seemed to lack a certain gravitas. He was intelligent, certainly, but did he possess the acumen and judgment necessary to run an estate the size of Wyndham? Belgrave might have been the family's primary domicile, but there were countless other holdings, both in England and abroad. Thomas employed at least a dozen secretaries and managers to aid him in his stewardship, but he was no absentee landlord. If he had not walked every inch of the Belgrave lands, she would wager that he'd come close. And Grace had substituted for the dowager on enough of her duties around the estate to know that Thomas knew nearly all of his tenants by name. Grace had always thought that a remarkable achievement for one brought up as he had been, with a constant emphasis on the Wyndham place in the hierarchy of man. (Just below the king, and well above you, thank you very much.) Thomas liked to present to the world the image of a slightly bored, sophisticated man of the ton, but there was quite a bit more to him. It was why he was so very good at what he did, she supposed. And why it was so callous of the dowager to treat him with such a lack of regard. Grace supposed that one had to possess feelings in order to have a care for those of others, but really, the dowager had quite gone beyond her usual selfishness. Grace had no idea whether Thomas had returned the night before, but if he hadn't†¦well, she wouldn't blame him. â€Å"More chocolate, Miss Eversleigh.† Grace stood and refilled the dowager's cup from the pot she'd left on the bedside table. â€Å"What did you talk about last night?† Grace decided to feign obtuseness. â€Å"I retired early.† She tilted the pot back, careful not to drip. â€Å"With your very kind permission.† The dowager scowled. Grace avoided the expression by returning the chocolate pot to its spot on the table. It took her an impressively long time to get it just so. â€Å"Did he speak of me?† the dowager asked. â€Å"Er, not so very much,† Grace hedged. â€Å"Not very much or not at all?† Grace turned. There was only so much interrogation she could avoid before the dowager lost her temper. â€Å"I'm certain he mentioned you.† â€Å"What did he say?† Good heavens. How was she meant to say that he'd called her an old bat? And if he hadn't called her that, then he'd probably called her something worse. â€Å"I don't recall precisely, ma'am,† Grace said. â€Å"I'm terribly sorry. I was not aware you wished for me to take note of his words.† â€Å"Well, next time, do so,† the dowager muttered. She turned to her newspaper, then looked up toward the window, her mouth in a straight, recalcitrant line. Grace stood still, her hands clasped in front of her, and waited patiently while the dowager fussed and turned and sipped and ground her teeth, and then – it was hard to believe, but Grace thought she might actually feel sorry for the older woman. â€Å"He reminds me of you,† she said, before she could think the better of it. The dowager turned to her with delighted eyes. â€Å"He does? How?† Grace felt her stomach drop, although she was not certain if this was due to the uncharacteristic happiness on the dowager's face or the fact that she had no idea what to say. â€Å"Well, not completely, of course,† she stalled, â€Å"but there is something in the expression.† But after about ten seconds of smiling blandly, it became apparent to Grace that the dowager was waiting for more. â€Å"His eyebrow,† she said, in what she thought was a stroke of genius. â€Å"He lifts it like you do.† â€Å"Like this?† The dowager's left brow shot up so fast Grace was surprised it did not fly off her face. â€Å"Er, yes. Somewhat like that. His are†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Grace made awkward motions near her own brows. â€Å"Bushier?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Well, he is a man.† â€Å"Yes.† Oh, yes. â€Å"Can he do both?† Grace stared at her blankly. â€Å"Both, ma'am?† The dowager began lifting and dropping her brows in alternation. Left, right, left, right. It was a singularly bizarre spectacle. â€Å"I do not know,† Grace said. Quickly. To cut her off. â€Å"Very strange,† the dowager said, returning both of her brows back to where Grace hoped she'd keep them. â€Å"My John could not do it.† â€Å"Heredity is very mysterious,† Grace agreed. â€Å"My father could not do this† – she took her thumb and bent it back until it touched her forearm – â€Å"but he said his father could.† â€Å"Aah!† The dowager turned aside in disgust. â€Å"Put it back! Put it back!† Grace smiled and said with perfect mildness, â€Å"You will not wish to see what I can do with my elbow, then.† â€Å"Good Lord, no.† The dowager snorted and waved toward the door. â€Å"I am through with you. Go see to breakfast.† â€Å"Shall I have Nancy help you dress?† The dowager let out the most amazingly long-suffering sigh, as if a lifetime of aristocratic privilege was just too much. â€Å"Yes,† she agreed gracelessly, â€Å"if only because I can't bear to look at your thumb.† Grace chuckled. And she must have been feeling especially bold, because she did not even attempt to stifle it. â€Å"Are you laughing at me, Miss Eversleigh?† â€Å"Of course not!† â€Å"Don't,† the dowager said sharply, â€Å"even think about saying you're laughing with me.† â€Å"I was just laughing, ma'am,† Grace said, her face twitching with the smile she could not keep contained. â€Å"I do that sometimes.† â€Å"I have never witnessed it.† Said as if this meant it couldn't possibly be true. Grace could not say any of the three rejoinders that immediately sprang to mind – That is because you are not listening, your grace. That is because I rarely have cause to laugh in your presence. or What of it? So instead she smiled – warmly, even. Now this was strange. She'd spent so much of her time swallowing her retorts, and it always left a bitter taste in her mouth. But not this time. This time she felt light. Unfettered. If she could not speak her mind to the dowager, she didn't much care. She had too much to look forward to this morning. Breakfast. Bacon and eggs. Kippers. Toast with butter and marmalade, too, and†¦ And him. Mr. Audley. Jack.

Advertising in Outdoor Media

Advertising in Outdoor Media Out-of-home advertising (or outdoor advertising) is made up of more than 100 different formats. Outdoor advertising is essentially any type of advertising that reaches the consumer while he or she is outside the home. This medium is in contrast with broadcast, print, and Internet advertising. Out of home advertising, therefore, is focused on marketing to consumers when they are â€Å"on the go† in public places, in transit, waiting (such as in a medical office), and/or in specific commercial locations (such as in a retail venue).Outdoor advertising formats fall into four main categories: billboards, street furniture, transit, and alternative. Billboard advertising is a traditional out of home advertising format, but there has been significant growth in digital out of home advertising (billboards and place-based networks) in recent years. Traditional roadside billboards remain the predominant form of outdoor advertising. Street furniture is made up of formats such as bus shelters, news-racks, mall kiosks, and telephone booth advertising. This form of outdoor advertising is mainly seen in urban centers.Additionally, this form of advertising provides benefits to communities, as street furniture companies are often responsible for building and maintaining the shelters people use while waiting for the bus. Transit advertising is typically advertising placed on anything which moves, such as buses, subway advertising, truck-side, and taxis, but also includes fixed static and electronic advertising at train and bus stations and platforms. Airport advertising, which helps businesses address an audience while traveling, is also included in this category.Municipalities often accept this form of advertising, as it provides revenue to city and port authorities. Finally, alternative advertising includes ads in stadiums, on gas pumps, bike racks, rest areas, and other non-traditional formats. Alternative advertising provides a way to addres s consumers in places they may not expect. DOOH Digital out-of-home refers to dynamic media distributed across placed-based networks in venues including, but not limited to: cafes, bars, restaurants, health clubs, colleges, arenas, gas stations, and public spaces.DOOH networks typically feature independently addressable screens, kiosks, jukeboxes and/or jumbotrons. DOOH media benefits location owners and advertisers alike in being able to engage customers and/or audiences and extend the reach and effectiveness of marketing messages. It is also referred to as Digital Signage. The reason that this category is growing so rapidly is because busy people are typically busy at home and with the introduction and acceptance of digital video recorders, it has diluted the frequency with which traditional television commercials are viewed.Every day more TV viewers are skipping past commercials with their DVRs which in turn has made out-of-home advertising all the more appealing. A Nielsen media research study in 2009 showed that 91 percent of DVR owners skipped commercials. As a result, traditional TV advertisers are hungry for an effective substitute, and digital out-of-home ads appear to be one of the solutions. DOOH also includes stand-alone screens, kiosks, and interactive media found in public places.The availability of inexpensive LCD screens with built-in media players has opened the door for companies to add interactive video messages in Point of Purchase (POP) Displays. The displays allow consumers to get additional information at the moment of decision on a product or service. Growth in the DOOH industry has been increasing in 2009, with more POP manufacturers, advertisers, and content developers moving to digital. Non-Digital Out-Of-Home Non-digital out-of-home refers to other types of media distributed across physical spaces.These are: Airship Advertising – An airship can provide one of the physically largest out-of-home advertising platforms. Bulletin – Bulletin billboards are usually located in highly visible, heavy traffic areas such as expressways, primary arteries, and major intersections. With extended periods of high visibility, billboard advertisements provide advertisers with significant impact on commuters. Bus advertising – Firmly establish brand awareness and generate quick recall with high profile exposure near point of purchase locations. Commuter rail display – Reaches a captive audience of upscale suburban commuters.Additionally, reaches lunch-time patrons, shoppers and business professionals. ComPark advertising – ComPark is a device used for car park advertising; which is placed onto the parallel lines of a bay and is able to gain instant exposure from motorists that have just parked their vehicle. The ComPark also serves as a guide to assist motorist in adhering to the parking bay size. Lamppost banner advertising – Lamp columns are sited everywhere, allowing advertisers and ev ents to use banners to target precise geographical locations and create massive promotional awareness.Mobile billboard – Mobile billboards offer a great degree of flexibility to advertisers. These advertisements can target specific routes, venue or events, or can be used to achieve market saturation. A special version is the inflatable billboard which can stand free nearly everywhere. This product can also be used for outdoor movie nights. Poster – Target local audiences with these billboards, which are highly visible to vehicular traffic and are ideal for the introduction of new products/services.Marketers use posters to achieve advertising objectives and increase brand awareness by placing multiple units in strategic locations while lowering the cost per thousand impressions. Premier panel – Premiere panels combine the frequency and reach of a poster campaign with the creative impact of a bulletin. Premier square – Bright top and bottom illumination on a premiere panel provide extra impact after dark. Street advertising – The use of pavements and street furniture to create media space for brands to get their message onto the street in a cost-effective approach.Taxi advertising – Taxi advertising allows advertisers to highlight their products, whether brand awareness, or a targeted message, directly to areas where people work, shop, and play. Wallscape – Wallscapes are attached to buildings and are able to accommodate a wide variety of unusual shapes and sizes. These billboard advertisements are visible from a distance and provide tremendous impact in major metro area. Other types of non-digital out-of-home advertising include airport displays; transit and bus-shelter displays; headrest displays; double-sided panels; junior posters; and mall displays.